Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed March 2002 / edited 2003

5. Biology of the Lower Olentangy River Watershed

The Olentangy River watershed is part of the Teays-Old Ohio Freshwater Ecoregion (Abell, Olson, Dinerstein, et al., 2000). This freshwater ecoregion is considered to be globally outstanding because of the sheer numbers of aquatic species found within it: 206 native fish species, 122 unionid mussel species, 49 species of crayfish, and 60 native species of amphibians and aquatic reptiles. The great diversity of the biotas in rivers and streams in this region is the result of the diversity of upland and lowland habitats and the presence of both glaciated and unglaciated stream systems. Twelve percent of the fish, 14% of the mussels, 47% of crayfish, and 5% of the reptiles and amphibians are restricted to this ecoregion and found nowhere else.

In pre-settlement times (prior to the 19th Century), the landscape across this ecoregion was heavily forested. However, much of the area has been extensively logged, often repeatedly, since the arrival of Europeans. Row-crop agriculture is the predominant land use across the region with well over 50% of the land cover altered from its original post-glacial nature. Streams throughout the area have also been significantly altered and currently face the entire litany of threats faced by stream systems in the 21st Century. These include impoundments, point source and non-point source pollution, excessive sedimentation, nutrient enrichment, hydromodification of the original stream channel and the associated flood plain, habitat loss, and urbanization.

Aquatic Biotas in the Lower Olentangy Sub-basin Ohio EPA’s Division of Surface Water and ODNR’s Division of Natural Areas and Preserves Scenic River program both regularly use aquatic biotas as indicators of water quality in Ohio streams. The focus for both agencies has been on the abundance and diversity of pollution-intolerant species relative to the abundance of pollution-tolerant species. Pollution-intolerant species are specialized forms that have a narrow range of tolerance for a specific suite of environmental parameters, including dissolved oxygen, temperature, water clarity, salinity, substrate conditions, stream depth and velocity, nutrient levels, food resources, and the presence/absence of chemical contaminants in water or sediment. These species typically cannot live in stream environments impacted by excessive nutrients, sedimentation, or the influx of pollutants.

These “sentinel” species and their presence and abundance in a stream serve as an indication of good to excellent water quality conditions. Their scarcity or absence suggests the presence of negative factors – pollutants and/or physical or chemical changes to stream habitats that have adversely impacted populations of these species in the stream. Pollution- intolerant species typically have specific habitat requirements. In Ohio rivers and streams, these species are primarily riffle-dwelling species- species that require shallow, high velocity, highly oxygenated, clear water conditions over silt-free, hard substrates – features characteristic of good riffle habitat. Good quality, naturally flowing rivers and streams typically have an abundance of such riffle zone habitat and support diverse and abundant populations of pollution-intolerant aquatic species.

Lower Olentangy River Watershed Inventory D-35 Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed March 2002 / edited 2003

Ohio EPA’s use of biological indicators to assess water quality utilizes a combination of measurements of the abundance and diversity of pollution-intolerant fish and benthic macro-invertebrates in rivers and streams. Benthic macro-invertebrates are bottom- dwelling animals that lack backbones and which are visible with the naked eye. They include animals like crayfish, mussels, snails, worms, and a variety of aquatic insect larvae. ODNR’s Scenic Rivers volunteer monitoring program focuses on riffle-dwelling benthic macro- invertebrates alone. The following describes the occurrence of both pollution intolerant fish and benthic macro-invertebrate species in the Lower Olentangy River Sub-basin and their significance with regard to what they tell us about water quality along this stretch of the river.

Fish Fish have been used widely as biological indicators of stream water quality. Fish are useful as water quality indicators as: 1) they are fully aquatic throughout their life cycle; 2) different species have different tolerances to amounts and types of pollution; 3) they are relatively easy to collect; 4) they are relatively easy to identify; and 5) they are comparatively long-lived and mobile, hence are indicators of general conditions across a large area [indicators of macro- habitat quality rather than micro-habitat quality]. Their use as indicators centers on the abundance and diversity of pollution-intolerant species and also the health and appearance of individual fish. Information regarding fish species in Ohio streams and their relative tolerance of pollutants has been compiled by Ohio EPA’s Division of Surface Water (1999, Table 11). Pollution-intolerant species have been further divided into rare-intolerant species (R), special intolerant species (S), pollution-intolerant species (I), and moderately intolerant species (M).

Fish are a major part of Ohio EPA’s current stream water quality evaluation process. The Division of Surface Water has developed several measures using fish biotas as water quality indicators. The Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) measures multiple parameters – 12 “metrics” including the abundance and diversity of pollution-intolerant fish species, trophic composition (carnivores vs. insectivores vs. herbivores), plus fish biomass and physical condition (Ohio EPA, 1995). The Modified Index of Well-Being (MIwb) is also used, calculating fish biomass and density and factoring out the effects of 13 common pollution- tolerant species.

Data with regard to the occurrence and abundance of pollution-intolerant fish in the Lower Olentangy River include results of fish sampling carried out by Ohio EPA along this stretch of the river in the summer of 1999 (C. Bouche, pers. comm., 2001) and historical data collected by Ohio EPA along the entire course of the river between 1979 and 1999 (D. Mishne, pers. comm., 2001). These data are presented in Table 11. Ohio EPA has collected similar data for other central Ohio streams (Big Darby Creek, the Middle Scioto River, Alum Creek, and Big Walnut Creek).

A comparison of the diversity and abundance of pollution-intolerant fish species in central Ohio streams is presented in Table 12. From these data, it can be seen that pollution- intolerant species made up 40% of the total species collected from the Lower Olentangy River in 1999. These same pollution-intolerant species comprised 43% of the total number of fish collected from this stretch of the river the same year. These numbers compare

Lower Olentangy River Watershed Inventory D-36 Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed March 2002 / edited 2003

favorably with those indicated for Big Darby Creek in Franklin County (37% and 46%, respectively). Big Darby Creek is considered by Ohio EPA, the Nature Conservancy, and others to be the highest quality stream remaining in central Ohio; supporting the highest diversities of aquatic biotas, including large numbers of pollution intolerant species often found nowhere else in the region. In terms of both pollution-sensitive fish species and pollution-intolerant individuals, the lower part of the Olentangy River ranks second among central Ohio streams behind Big Darby Creek. The presence of these species suggest good to excellent water quality conditions and the local occurrence of good riffle habitat along this portion of the Olentangy mainstem.

Based on the 1999 fish survey of the Lower Olentangy River (Ohio EPA, 2001), numerically predominant species included the spotfin shiner (13.9%), golden redhorse (9.5%), smallmouth bass (8.6 %), bluntnose minnow (7.6 %), and the bluegill sunfish (7.5%). In terms of biomass, dominant species were the common carp (30.3%), golden redhorse (23%), silver redhorse (10.3 %), black redhorse (6.4 %), and quillback carpsucker (4.5 %).

Data from Ohio EPA (D, Mishne, 2001) and from ODNR’s Natural Heritage database (2001) indicated the presence of four endangered, threatened, or special interest fish species in the Lower Olentangy River mainstem. These included the endangered Northern Brook Lamprey (Ichthyomyzon fossor), the endangered Spotted Darter (Etheostoma maculatum), the threatened Bluebreast Darter (E. camurum), and the state special interest River Redhorse (Moxostoma carinatum). It is of interest that all of these species occur in the heavily urbanized stretch of the river between I-270 and the confluence with the Scioto River in Franklin County as well as in more pristine stretches of the Olentangy River paralleling High Banks Metro Park (MORPC. 1997; ODNR Natural Heritage database, 2001).

Data from Ohio EPA (2001) also indicate that the Olentangy River is one of the premier Smallmouth Bass streams in central Ohio (Tables 13,14). The Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) is one of Ohio’s most sought after sport gamefish. It is limited to clearer waters over rocky-bottomed portions of Lake Erie and to deeper pools with gravel or rock bottoms and a viable current in streams and rivers across Ohio. Smallmouth Bass in the Olentangy River comprise a larger percentage of the total number of fish collected (8.6%) compared to all other central Ohio streams (Table 13). Only the Scioto River in Delaware and Franklin counties has yielded a greater number of individuals of this species and this is due, in part, to this stretch of the Scioto River being sampled much more frequently than the Olentangy mainstem (D. Mishne, 2001).

With regard to the site-specific distribution of fish (Tables 14, 15), the greatest number of individual fish collected by Ohio EPA in 1999 (N=1,713) was at a locality south and downstream of the Delaware WWTP (RM 24.5). However, at this location, over 50% of the fish collected belonged to a single species, the Spotfin Shiner. The greatest number of pollution-intolerant fish species (N=15 species) came from the “Scenic River” portion of the river at the Powell Road bridge upstream of High Banks Metro Park (RM 15) in southern Delaware County and, more surprizingly, from the river in the vicinity of Kenny Park, just east of Bethel Road (RM 7.8) in a more heavily urbanized area between Worthington and Clintonville in Franklin County. The state threatened Bluebreast Darter was collected from both of these localities as well (Ohio EPA, 2001).

Lower Olentangy River Watershed Inventory D-37 Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed March 2002 / edited 2003

Smallmouth bass constituted significant numbers of the total fish collected at a number of sites north and south of the city of Delaware in Delaware County (Table 14). This popular sportfish was most abundant at the Panhandle Road site north of the city (21% of total fish collected at RM 27.9) and from the river in the vicinity of the US Rt. 23 Bridge, just south of the city (RM 22.3; 19% of the total fish collected).

Downstream portions of the river, even in urban-impacted stretches near the river’s mouth in the city of Columbus, supported significant numbers of several pollution-intolerant, round-bodied, “redhorse” sucker species. The Golden Redhorse, a river species with a moderate intolerance to pollutants, is a dominant species in collections made in 1999 from the Powell Road Bridge at the High Banks Metro Park to the Olentangy’s confluence with the Scioto River in Columbus. This species commonly comprises 10-20% of the total number of fish collected at these localities (Table 15).

These fish data generally demonstrate that the mainstem of the Lower Olentangy River is certainly “fishable”, one of the desired goals of the federal Clean Water Act.

Freshwater Mussels Freshwater mussels belonging to the bivalve family Unionidae are an important, if often inconspicuous group of benthic macroinvertebrates common to many Ohio waterbodies, including the Olentangy River. Living partially to mostly buried on the bottoms of lakes, rivers, and streams, mussels are well camouflaged and often mistaken for rocks. The mussels live by absorbing dissolved oxygen and filtering microscopic food particles from the water. They are part of the waterways’ natural purification system. Because of their largely sedentary lifestyle and their habit of filtering particles out of the water, plus sensitivity to pollutants, sedimentation, and low dissolved oxygen levels, they are considered to be “sentinel species” and natural barometers of stream water quality.

The history of freshwater mussels in the Scioto River Basin (including the Olentangy River Watershed), has been investigated by Dr. David Stansberry and his students at The Ohio State University. These investigations identified 29 species of native mussels from the Olentangy River, although three of these species were believed to have been extirpated from the river, represented only by dead “subfossil” shells (C. B. Stein, 1963). Dr. Stein identified 17 common living mussel species from the river just downstream of the 5th Avenue dam, south of the OSU campus, in the early and mid-1960. After channelization and partial realignment of the river’s channel as part of the construction of State Rt. 315 in 1968, she returned to this stretch of the river in 1971 to find only a few live specimens belonging to only three mud-tolerant species. A more recent survey of mussels in this portion of the river (2000) revealed only five living species (Table 16).

The Lower Olentangy River in Clintonville, between Kenney Park to the north and the North Broadway bridge to the south, has largely remained in its natural state, retaining a mosaic of aquatic habitats, including shallow riffle zones, deeper low-energy pools, and intermediate sand or gravel-bottom flats and runs, all flanked by variably-developed wooded riparian corridors (Ohio EPA, 2001).

Lower Olentangy River Watershed Inventory D-38 Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed March 2002 / edited 2003

FLOW members carried out surveys of mussels from four localities along this stretch of the Olentangy River in 1998, 1999, and 2000. These surveys indicate that this portion of the river still supports a diverse, abundant mussel biota of at least 14 living species (Table 17), including viable populations of two state “special interest” species -- the Round Pigtoe (Pleurobema sintoxia) and the Wavy-lined Lampshell (Lampsilis fasciola). Two additional species may also be present based on the occurrence of articulated, fresh-dead shells (with intact ligaments, periostracum, and nacre) of these forms. These include the state endangered Snuffbox (Epioblasma triquetra) and the Round Hickory Nut (Obovaria subrotunda).

Downsteam sections of the river south of Henderson Road are dominated by numerous specimens of the “Three-Ridge Shell” (Amblema plicata) and the “White Heel-Splitter” (Lasmigona complanata). Upstream of the bridge there are greater numbers of the “Plain Pocketbook” (Lampsilis cardium) and the “Fat Mucket” (Lampsilis radiata luteola). Other common species include the “ Elktoe” (Alasmidonta marginata), the “Fluted Shell” (Lasmigona costata), the “Kidneyshell” (Ptychobranchus fasciolaris), the Round Pigtoe (Pleurobema sintoxia), and the Wavy-Lined Lampshell (Lampsilis fasciola). These latter five species have all been described as being limited to “good quality streams” (T. Watters, 1995).

Mussels surveys by Hoggarth et. al. in 1989 and Frey in 2001 indicate living specimens of 10 mussel species from the vicinity of High Banks Metro Park in southern Delaware County (Table 18). Hoggarth (1990) remarked on the declining numbers of silt-sensitive species, including Fusconaia flava, Pleurobema sintoxia, Lasmigona costata, and Ptychobranchia fasciolaris and suggested that these species appeared to be headed toward extirpation from the river. Ten years later, none of the first three species and only a single living specimen of P. fasciolaris were observed from this portion of the river (Table 18). Comparisons of similar mussel surveys from an upstream locality at the Orange Road Bridge in 1989 and 2001 indicated a more dramatic decrease in live mussels (Table 19). Hoggarth (1990) inferred that increased siltation from agricultural run-off and development was the likely cause of the decline of these silt-sensitive species from the river. This part of southern Delaware County is currently the fastest growing area in the state. With increased development comes the threat of increased sedimentation and its adverse effects on biotas living in the river, especially the bottom-dwelling organisms.

Studies of collections of mussels at the OSU Museum of Biodiversity indicate significant numbers of the federally endangered “Clubshell” (Pleurobema clava), the state-endangered “Rabbitsfoot” (Quadrula cylindrica), the state-endangered “Snuffbox” (Epioblasma triquetra), and the state-threatened “Pondhorn” (Uniomeris tetralasmus) were collected from the Lower Olentangy River within Franklin County prior to the late 1960’s. After 1968 and the channelization and realignment of the Olentangy River in the Worthington and OSU campus areas, these species largely disappeared from the river.

As indicated above, fresh-dead specimens of the “Snuffbox” have been collected from the Olentangy River between Kenney Park and the North Broadway Bridge in Clintonville. The “Snuffbox” is also reported from the Olentangy River north of the city of Delaware and below the Delaware Dam and from the river at High Banks Metro Parks (Hoggarth, 1990; ODNR Natural Heritage Database, 2000). ODNR also reported the occurrence of the state- endangered “Rayed Bean” (Villosa fabilis) from the section of the river between the dam and the city of Delaware.

Lower Olentangy River Watershed Inventory D-39 Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed March 2002 / edited 2003

Fresh-dead specimens of the state-threatened “Pondhorn” have been collected by FLOW members (2000) from macrophyte-stabilized, low-energy backwater areas just below the 5th Avenue Dam. These occurences suggest that small populations of this species still exist in the Lower Olentangy River.

In contrast, the “Clubshell” and the “Rabbitsfoot” appear to have been locally extirpated from the Lower Olentangy River, evidently as the result of habitat alteration and destruction associated with the construction of State Rt. 315 in Franklin County.

Studies of the current distribution of unionid mussels in the Lower Olentangy River Watershed illustrate the importance of intact riparian corridors and natural in-stream habitat to the maintenance of good water quality conditions and diverse aquatic biotas in urban- suburban streams, including the Olentangy River. The abundance and continued diversity of mussels in those portions of the river that retain these features intact attest to the good water quality still present in these portions of the river. However, the history of unionid mussels in the Olentangy River and elsewhere in the Scioto Basin also documents the negative impacts that urbanization and extensive modification of stream habitat and adjacent flood plain environments have had on the river’s overall water quality and its ability to sustain pollution-intolerant species. Extensive channelization and destruction of in-stream habitat associated with the construction of State Rt. 315 in the late 1960’s and the early 1970’s appears to have led to the local extirpation or, at least, severe reductions in the numbers of five previously viable species in the Lower Olentangy River, including three “endangered” and one “state-threatened” species. Continued development in the Lower Olentangy Watershed, especially in southern Delaware County, will continue to pose a serious threat to these environmentally sensitive aquatic species.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates (Aquatic Insects) Ohio EPA’s Division of Surface Water’s Biological and Water Quality Surveys and ODNR's Ohio Scenic River Stream Quality Program both use the presence and abundance of pollution-sensitive benthic invertebrates, primarily aquatic insects, as indicators of stream water quality. Pollution-sensitive insect species typically include the so-called “EPT Metric”; members of the insect orders Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), and Trichoptera (caddisflies). The relative low tolerance for pollutants and other poor water quality conditions (low dissolved oxygen and turbidity) characteristic of most members of these three insect groups is well documented and these insect groups usually dominate gravel and cobble riffle habitats in good quality rivers and streams. Other common indicators of good water quality conditions in central Ohio streams, including the Olentangy River, include an abundance of “water pennies” (aquatic beetle larvae), “hellgrammites” (larval stage of the Dobsonfly), and various species of gilled snails.

Determinations of Ohio EPA’s Invertebrate Community Index (ICI) involve the use of stationary Hester-Dendy multi-plate artificial substrate samplers to obtain quantitative samples of benthic invertebrates, primarily insect larvae or nymphs. The emphasis is on the identities, diversity, and abundance of species of mayflies, caddisflies, and midges collected from these samples (Ohio EPA, 1987; Deshon, 1995). ODNR’s Stream Quality Monitoring Program is more inclusive and involves the use of kick-seines to sample rivers and streams

Lower Olentangy River Watershed Inventory D-40 Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed March 2002 / edited 2003

more qualitatively, measuring the diversity and relative abundance of pollution-sensitive benthic macroinvertebrates whose presence or absence is used to calculate a cumulative stream quality index using the occurrence of these key species as indicators of water quality. The emphasis is on the number of different key pollution-sensitive species (EPT, water pennies, hellgrammites, gilled snails) relative to the total number of invertebrates collected.

Ohio EPA 1999 Biological and Water Quality Study Ohio EPA’s biological and water quality study of the Lower Olentangy River carried out in the summer of 1999 indicated a variety of water quality conditions in the main stem of the river, resulting in benthic invertebrate communities with ICI scores ranging from excellent (ICI=48-52) to poor (ICI = 12). Exceptional aquatic insect communities were collected from sites in the vicinity of High Banks Metro Park and were dominated by net-spinning caddisfly larvae and clinging and swimming mayfly nymphs with correspondingly high EPT metrics (=21-23). Poor ICI scores were recorded from impounded and modified portions of the river within Franklin County (upstream of the Fifth Avenue dam and at the confluence with the Scioto River) with biotas dominated by midge larvae and aquatic worms (Ohio EPA, 2001).

FLOW River Monitoring Results (1998-2001) FLOW has systematically monitored benthic macroinvertebrates at select sites along the Lower Olentangy River for the past two years. Kick-seines are used to collect benthic invertebrates from identified riffle areas at least three time a year with samples usually taken in the late spring, the mid-summer, and the late summer or early fall. Screened invertebrates are identified as their general group (mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, gilled snails, etc.) and counted with regard to their relative abundance. As indicated above, these data are used to calculate a cumulative stream quality index (=CSQI). Pollution-sensitive species count more than pollution-tolerant species and the higher the index value the better the water quality of the stream. Data for two riffle localities, one downstream and one upstream of the Henderson Road bridge in Clintonville, are presented in Table 20.

Collected biotas from the sites north and south of the Henderson Road bridge are dominated by pollution-sensitive species, including “water pennies” ( Psephenus herricki), both clinging (Stenonema spp.) and swimming mayfly nymphs (Isonychia sp.), net-spinning caddisfly larvae (Hydropsyche spp.), and riffle beetles (F elmidae). The site upstream of the Henderson Road Bridge also regularly supported abundant populations of high-spired gilled snails (cf. Goniobasis spp.). The downstream site had significant populations of stonefly nymphs (Acroneuria evoluta, Isoperla spp.), especially in the late spring and early summer months. These results indicate consistent water quality values in the good or excellent range (CSQI values 18-27). The only low value (=14, fair quality) resulted from a sample collected in the early spring (4/10/99) possibly before many insect larvae had hatched out or become active.

Other Biotas Found in the Lower Olentangy Watershed Mammals such beaver, mink, and muskrat can be found in and along the banks of the Olentangy River. More terrestrial species, such as white-tailed deer, coyotes, raccoons, red fox, the eastern cottontail rabbit, eastern gray squirrel, red squirrel, groundhogs, and a variety of smaller rodents including deer mice, field mice, and the meadow vole, occur in forested

Lower Olentangy River Watershed Inventory D-41 Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed March 2002 / edited 2003

riparian corridors surrounding the main stem of the river, even in more heavily urbanized portions of Franklin County. Along with these mammals, a diverse avian fauna, including migratory neotropical songbirds as well as a variety of wading birds, ducks, raptors, and perennial songbirds, have been observed along the river’s corridor in Delaware and Franklin County.

The garter snake, northern water snake, painted turtle, snapping turtle, and spiny soft-shelled turtle along with the American toad, bullfrog, green frog, and leopard frog, live in and along the river’s banks.

The forested corridor along the Lower Olentangy is dominated by large, towering specimens of American Sycamore and Cottonwood, stabilizing the riverbank, providing a canopy over the river channel, and providing a diverse habitat for a variety of riparian birds and mammals. Exposed root balls along the channel provide cover and habitat for an additional number of aquatic species. Smaller Box Elder and Black Willow trees further complete the forest corridor. Protected, isolated areas within the steep ravines flanking most of the tributaries of the Lower Olentangy River may support diverse humidity and temperature sensitive floras, including a variety of wild flowers, ferns, and mosses that often are found no place else in central Ohio.

Even though an urban environment surrounds much of the Olentangy River corridor in Franklin County, many different species can found living in the parks and open spaces along the river. The 2001 City of Columbus Parks and Recreation “BioBlitz” provided abundant evidence of this diversity. Over the course of a rainy two-day period, a volunteer cadre of field scientists and other biology professionals conducted an inventory of all of the species found in the vicinity of the river in Kenny, Antrim, and Delawanda parks. A total of 1,030 species were observed and identified (shown in Table 7).

National Heritage Database Records for the Lower Olentangy Watershed As part of the National Heritage Database, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, has catalogued information regarding the presence of a number of rare, unusual, or unique species of plants and animals in the Lower Olentangy River mainstem and adjacent portions of the watershed. Table 8 lists a number of rare and endangered aquatic species listed from the mainstem of the river (fish and freshwater mussel species). A significant number of rare or endangered bird and plant species are shown in Table 9. A list of unique preserves, parkland and special features (including everal “champion” trees) are shown in Table 10. (See Appendix D.3 for a map and chart of unique places of interest and recreational resources).

Many of these observations were made in the “Scenic River” portion of the Lower Olentangy Watershed, which, up until recently, remained little impacted by human development in the watershed. All of this has changed in the last several years with this portion of the watershed being one of the fastest growing areas in Ohio. These occurrences further document the importance of maintaining the river and its flanking riparian corridor in a more natural state, preserving a variety of natural habitats which, in turn, support a diversity of animals and plants, many of which are unique to this area.

Lower Olentangy River Watershed Inventory D-42 Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed March 2002 / edited 2003

Table 7: Columbus City Parks and Recreation BioBlitz Results (2001)

Animal or Plant Group Number of Species identified Arthropods (Insects, spiders, etc.) 570 Mollusks (snails, mussels, clams) 14 Fish 16 Amphibians 4 Fungi 7 Lichens 3 Mosses 24 Grasses/Sedges 36 Wildflowers 227 Shrubs 19 Trees 40 Grand Total 1,030 species

Table 8: Unique Biological Life- Aquatic Unique Aquatic Life: Location(s) Common Name Scientific Name State Status Confluence of Adena Brook Northern Brook Ichthyomyzon fossor Endangered Lamprey North of Antrim and Delawanda Snuffbox Epioblasma triquetra Endangered Parks, north of Bartholomew Run, North of City Delaware Confluence of Flint Ravine and Bluebreast Darter Etheostoma camurum Threatened Rush Run, North of Henderson Rd. Bridge and adjacent to Highbanks and Kenny Park Just south of St Rt 161 and north Rayed Bean Villosa fabalis Endangered of the City of Delaware Adjacent to Lambourne Ave. Spotted Darter Etheostoma maculatum Endangered Just north of I-270 and Mollusk Bed Lampsilis faciola Special Interest downstream and upstream of (Wavy- Rayed 750, and adjacent to Liberty Lampmussel Church. Downstream of trailer park in Del Co. Adjacent to a gravel pit in Del. Mollusk Bed Villosa fabalis Endangered Co. 1 mile downstream from the (Rayed Bean & Lampsilis faciola Special Interest Del Dam. Wavy-Rayed Lampmussel) South of 5th and north of 3rd Ave. Pondhorn Uniomerus tetralasmus Threatened

Lower Olentangy River Watershed Inventory D-43 Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed March 2002 / edited 2003

Table 9: Unique Biological Life – Birds and Plants Unique Birds: Location(s) Common Name Scientific Name State Status Adena Brook & Yellow-Crowned Nyctanassa violacea Endangered Highbanks Night Heron Bill Moose Run & Yellow Bellied Sphyapicus varius Endangered Highbanks & 5277 Forest Sapsucker Ave. Bill Moose Run & Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia Endangered Highbanks & 5277 Forest Ave Bill Moose Run & Cerulean Warbler Dendroica cerulea Special Interest Highbanks & 5277 Forest Ave Bill Moose Run & 5277 Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus Endangered Forest Ave Highbanks & Bill Moose Golden Winged Vermivora chrysoptera Endangered Run Warbler Highbanks & 5277 Forest Canada Warbler Wilsonia canadensis Endangered Ave. Highbanks Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis Endangered Highbanks & 5277 Forest Double-crested Special Interest Ave. Cormorant Highbanks American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus Endangered Highbanks Black Vulture Coragyps atratus Special Interest Highbanks American Black Special Interest Duck Highbanks Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus Endangered Highbanks & 5277 Forest Sharp-shinned Accipiter striatus Special Interest Ave. Hawk Highbanks Red-shouldered Buteo lineatus Special Interest Hawk Highbanks Sora Porzana carolina Special Interest Highbanks Common Gallinula chloropus Special Interest Moorhen Highbanks Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis Endangered Highbanks Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda Threatened Highbanks Long-eared Owl Asio otus Special Interest Highbanks Northern Saw- Aegolius acadicus Special Interest whet Owl Highbanks Purple Martin Progne subis Special Interest Highbanks & 5277 Forest Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Endangered Ave.

Table 9 continued on the next page.

Lower Olentangy River Watershed Inventory D-44 Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed March 2002 / edited 2003

Continued from the previous page.

Table 9: Unique Biological Life – Birds and Plants Unique Birds: Location(s) Common Name Scientific Name State Status Mirror Lake-OSU Barn Owl Tyto alba Endangered 1.5 miles south of the Bald Eagle Haliaeetus Endangered Delaware Dam; leucocephalus Federal LT Highbanks Highbanks, 4277 Forest Osprey Pandion haliaetus Endangered Ave.; Whetstone Park. 373 Charleston Ave.; Bill Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea Endangered Moose Run Unique Plants: Location(s) Common Name Scientific Name State Status Highbanks Weak Spear-Grass Poa languida Potentially Threatened Species Highbanks Spotted Coral Corallorhiza maculata Potentially Threatened Root Species North and south of Snow Trillium Trillium nivale Potentially Threatened Camp Lazarus Species Delaware Run Park Shining Ladies Spiranthes lucida Potentially Threatened Tresses Species Woodlot east of Grove Sandwort Arenaria lateriflora Potentially Threatened Delaware Run Species Delawanda Park Early Buttercup Ranunculus fascicularis Potentially Threatened OSU Campus Oval Silverbell Halesia carolina Presumed Extirpated

Table 10: Unique Preserves, Parkland and Special Features Location Feature Stratford, Delaware County Stratford Woods State Nature Preserve Beechwold Ave. Columbus, Franklin Co. Champion Tree- Black Walnut Highbanks Metro Park, County line Cliffs Highbanks Metro Park, County line Concretion Deposit Bartholomew Run Oak-Maple Forest Olentangy Indian Caverns Cave or Cavern West of C&O RR, Delaware County Champion Tree- Bur Oak OSU- near Mirror Lake Glacial Erratic

(See Appendix D.3 for a map and chart of Unique Places of Interest and Recreational Resources)

Lower Olentangy River Watershed Inventory D-45 Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed March 2002 / edited 2003

Table 11: Pollution-Intolerant Fish Species Collected from the Olentangy River (Ohio EPA, 1999; 1979-1999)

Species Feeding Tol. Hab. Lower Olentangy Olentangy (1979- Guild Pref. (1999) 1999) Black Redhorse I I P 276 (2.6%) 717 (1.5%) River Redhorse * I I P 8 (0.07%) 36 (0.08%) Silver Redhorse I M P 126 (1.5%) 300 (0.7%) Golden Redhorse I M P 935 (9.5%) 1,878 (3.9%) Shorthead Redhorse I M P 2 (0.02%) 3 (0.01%) Northern Hogsucker I M R 399 (3.4%) 1,022 (1.8%) River Chub I I B 8 (0.07%) 76 (1.6%) Silver Shiner I I P 65 (0.6%) 227 ((0.4%) Rosyface Shiner I I R 3 (0.03%) 4 (0.01%) Rosefin Shiner I M P 182 (0.3%) Sand Shiner I M B 497 (5.5%) 640 (1.45%) Mimic Shiner I M B 1 (0.001%) Stonecat Madtom I I R 104 (1.0 %) 151 (0.24%) Brook Silverside I M P 37 (0.34%) 141 (0.35%) Smallmouth Bass C M P 1,036 (8.6%) 2,765 (5.4%) Longear Sunfish I M P 514 (4.9%) 2,937 (5.7%) Logperch I M B 153 (1.3%) 266 (0.5%) Greenside Darter I M R 149 (1.07%) 1,818 (2.9%) Banded Darter I I R 164 (1.45%) 233 (0.43%) Bluebreast Darter** I R R 4 (0.03%) 6 (0.01%) Rainbow Darter I M R 72 (0.6%) 484 (0.76%)

Total Number Fish Collected 1999 = 10,789 (48 species); Total Number of Fish Collected 1979-1999 = 55,256 (68 species) * = State Special Interest species ** = State Threatened species Feeding Guild = What the fish eats. I = Insectivore; C = Carnivore; Tol. = Pollution Tolerance R = Rare, Intolerant; I = Intolerant; M = Moderately Intolerant Hab. Pref. = Habitat Preference P = Pool, R = Riffle, B = Both

Lower Olentangy River Watershed Inventory D-46 Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed March 2002 / edited 2003

Table 12: Comparisons Of Central Ohio Streams with Regard to the Abundance Of Pollution-Intolerant Fish Species River # Pollution-Intolerant # Pollution-Intolerant Species Individuals Olentangy River (Entire, 21/68 species (31%) 13,887/55,256 (25%) 1972-1999) Lower Olentangy River 19/48 species (40%) 4,582/10,789 (43%) (1999) Big Darby Creek 26/71 species (37%) 13,164/28,492 (46%) (Franklin County, 1979- 2000) Scioto River (Delaware & 25/88 species (28%) 27,539/113,490 (24%) Franklin Counties, 1979- 2000) Alum Creek (from dam 19/68 species (28%) 6,542/24,537 (27%) to confluence, 1986- 2000) Big Walnut Creek (Port 24/70 species (34%) 7,941/17,902 (44%) Columbus to confluence, 1979-2000) Data from Ohio EPA Division of Surface Water (2001)

Table 13: Abundance of Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) In Central Ohio Streams River Number of Total % Of Fish Collected Individuals Entire Olentangy River 2,765 5.4 Lower Olentangy River 1,036 8.6 Big Darby Creek (Franklin 660 2.3 County) Scioto River (Delaware & 6,132 5.5 Franklin Counties) Alum Creek 138 <1.0 Big Walnut Creek 702 4.1 Data from Ohio EPA Division of Surface Water (2001)

Lower Olentangy River Watershed Inventory D-47 Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed March 2002 / edited 2003

Table 14: Distribution of Fish Species Collected at Individual Collection Sites on the Lower Olentangy River Mainstem in Delaware County (Ohio EPA, 1999) River Location Number Number Pollution Most Abunant Fish Mile of Fish of Intolerant Species Collected Species Species 32 Main Road, below 659 28 8 Bluegill = 19% Delaware Dam Black Crappie = 15% O. S. Sunfish = 12% 27.9 Panhandle Road, 490 22 9 Spotfin Shiner = 31% Delaware Co. Smallmouth B.= 21% C. Stoneroller = 9% 25.4 Upstrm Delaware 530 27 12 Bluegill = 19% WWTP, Delaware River Carp = 10% Redhorse* Spotfin Shiner = 9% 25.3 Delaware WWTP 170 21 9 Bluegill = 12% mixing zone Carp =12% Smallmouth B. = 7% 24.5 Dwnstrm Delaware 1,713 23 9 Spotfin Shiner =51% WWTP C. Stoneroller =14% Smallmouth B. =12% 22.3 U.S. Rt. 23 bridge, 859 18 8 Spotfin Shiner =43% Delaware Co. Smallmouth B. =19% C. Stoneroller = 8% 19.4 Hyatts Road 589 26 12 Spotfin Shiner =22% Bridge, Delaware Smallmouth B. =18% Co. C. Stoneroller =12% 15 Powell Road bridge 663 31 15 Gold Redhorse=20% at High Banks Bluebreast Smallmouth B. =14% Metro Park Darter* Spotfin Shiner =12% 13.4 OECC WWTP 133 9 5 Spotfin Shiner =40% mixing zone, Bluntnose Min.= 34% Delaware Co. Banded Darter =11% * State Endangered, Threatened, or Special Interest Species

Lower Olentangy River Watershed Inventory D-48 Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed March 2002 / edited 2003

Table 15: Distribution Of Fish Species Collected At Individual Collection Sites on the Lower Olentangy River Mainstem in Franklin County (Ohio EPA, 1999) River Location Number Number Pollution Most Abundant Fish Mile of Fish of Species Intolerant Species Collected Species 12.4 At Mt. Air 601 25 13 Gold. Redhorse=25% north of I-270 Blk. Redhorse = 14% Worthington Bluntnose Min. =13% 7.8 Kenny Park at 423 29 15 Banded Darter = 13% Bethel Road, Bluebreast Sand Shiner =13% Clintonville Darter* Gold. Redhorse=12% 6.8 Henderson 579 26 12 Gold. Redhorse=21% Road bridge, Sand Shiner =17% Clintonville Silver Redhorse=10% 5.5 North 363 20 6 Gold. Redhorse=22% Broadway Longear Sunfish=16% bridge Green Sunfish =15% 3.9 Dwnstrm 728 28 13 Bluegill = 13% Dodridge Longear Sunfish=11% Road dam Gold. Redhorse=11% 2.0 Upstrm 5th 537 23 7 Longear Sunfish=26% Avenue dam Bluegill = 16% at OSU Gold. Redhorse=12% 1.8 Dwnstrm 5th 617 26 12 Bluntnose Min. =21% Avenue Dam, Sand Shiner =13% Columbus Gold. Redhorse=11% 0.7 At Goodale 477 22 8 Longear Sunfish=12% Road, River Gizzard Shad =12% Columbus Redhorse* Gold. Redhorse=10% 0.3 Just above 658 25 9 Gizzard Shad = 17% confluence Bluegill = 14% with Scioto Bluntnose Min. = 9% * State Endangered, Threatened, or Special Interest Species

Lower Olentangy River Watershed Inventory D-49 Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed March 2002 / edited 2003

Table 16: Living Unionid Mussels Species Recorded from the Olentangy River just below the 5th Avenue Dam In Columbus, Franklin County (Modified From C. Stein, 1972) Mussel Species 1956-1967 1971 2000 (C. Stein, (C. Stein, 1972) (R.C. Frey) 1972) Elliptio dilatatus X Amblema plicata X X Pleurobema sintoxia * X Uniomeris tetralasmus ** X ? Anodonta imbecilis X X X Anodonta grandis X X X Alasmidonta marginata X ? Alasmidonta viridis X Lasmigona costata X ? Strophitus undulatus X Lampsilis cardium X X Lampsilis fasciola * X Lampsilis radiata luteola X X Ptychobranchus fasciolaris X Epioblasma triquetra *** X Toxolasma parva X Villosa iris X ?= Species represented by fresh-dead shells only * = State Special Interest **= State Threatened species *** = State Endangered species

Lower Olentangy River Watershed Inventory D-50 Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed March 2002 / edited 2003

Table 17: Abundance of Live Specimens of Freshwater Mussel Species in the Olentangy River in the Vicinity of Whetstone Park and the Henderson Road Bridge, Franklin County (1998-2000) Species 1998 1999 2000

Elliptio dilatatus 1 2 1 Amblema plicata 126 65 115 Pleurobema sintoxia * 2 5 12 Fusconaias flava 0 2 10 Anodonta grandis 16 1 5 Anodonta imbecilis 2 2 1 Alasmidonta marginata 7 9 6 Lasmigona complanata 27 41 65 Lasmigona costata 9 3 16 Strophitus undulatus 1 3 Lampsilis cardium 43 32 23 Lampsilis fasciola * 9 4 5 Lampsilis radiata luteola 55 37 29 Ptychobranchus fasciolaris 1 2 1 Total Number of Individuals 299 205 292

* = State “Special Interest” Species

Table 18: Abundance of Living Specimens of Freshwater Mussel Species From the Olentangy River at High Banks Metro Park, Delaware County SPECIES Hoggarth, 1989 Frey, 2001 Elliptio dilatatus 1 Amblema plicata 3 4 Alasmidonta marginata 1 1 Lasmigona complanata 0 1 Strophitus undulatus 2 0 Lampsilis cardium 1 14 Lampsilis fasciola * 3 4 Lampsilis radiata luteola 6 8 Ptychobranchus fasciolaris 7 1 Epioblasma triquetra ** 1 0 Total Number of Individuals 25 33

* =State “Special Interest” Species ** =State “Endangered” Species

Lower Olentangy River Watershed Inventory D-51 Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed March 2002 / edited 2003

Table 19: Abundance of Living Specimens of Freshwater Mussel Species from the Olentangy River Just Upstream from the Orange Road Bridge, Delaware County Species Hoggarth, 1989 Frey, 2001

Elliptio dilatatus 1 0 Amblema plicata 2 1 Anodonta grandis 0 1 Alasmidonta marginata 7 1 Lampsilis cardium 7 2 Lampsilis fasciola* 6 1 Lampsilis radiata luteola 10 4 Ptychobranchus fasciolaris 10 0 Total Number of Individuals 43 10

* = State “Special Interest Species”

Table 20: Cumulative Stream Quality Results: F.L.O.W. Sampling of the Olentangy River Upstream & Downstream of the Henderson Road Bridge. Franklin County (1998-2001) Downstream of Bridge Upstream of Bridge

1998 1998

10/24/98 NO SAMPLE 10/24/98 CSQI = 27/ EXCELLENT

1999 1999 4/10/99 NO SAMPLE 4/10/99 CSQI = 14/ FAIR 5/15/99 CSQI = 25/ EXCELLENT 5/15/99 CSQI = 20/ GOOD 9/11/99 CSQI = 24/ EXCELLENT 9/11/99 CSQI = 25/ EXCELLENT 2000 2000 7/3/00 CSQI = 26/ EXCELLENT 7/3/00 CSQI = 24/ EXCELLENT 8/12/00 CSQI = 20/ GOOD 8/12/00 CSQI = 18/ GOOD 2001 2001 5/5/01 CSQI = 23/ EXCELLENT 5/5/01 CSQI = 23/ EXCELLENT 6/30/01 CSQI = 22/ GOOD 6/30/01 CSQI = 18/ GOOD

CSQI = Cumulative Stream Quality Index (Kick-Seine Sampling)

Lower Olentangy River Watershed Inventory D-52